Our Family Tree
Learn about the generous donors who have established charitable funds through Stark Community Foundation.
1. Photo provided by Michael Barath, JustUsTwo Photography
2. Photo provided by Luca Sportelli
3. Photo provided by EN-RICH-MENT
4. Photo provided by Michael Barath, JustUsTwo Photography
When Canton Ballet first took the stage six decades ago, skeptics questioned whether a high-quality ballet school could survive in the heart of a football town. Yet with vision, determination and artistry, the nonprofit has spent 60 years proving that excellence in the arts can flourish anywhere passion leads the way.
This season, Canton Ballet celebrates its 60th anniversary with the same grace, grit and heart that have defined its journey from the beginning. The milestone marks more than longevity—it’s proof of what happens when a community refuses to be confined by expectations. In a place better known for touchdowns than tutus, Canton Ballet continues to inspire, educate and elevate, reminding people that artistry and athleticism share far more similarities than many might assume: discipline, strength, precision and a relentless drive to succeed.
Founded in 1965 by Suanne Ferguson and Jane Bingham Fawcett, Canton Ballet stands today as one of Ohio’s oldest arts institutions.
BUILT BY ALUMNI
“Dance has evolved over the years, and so has Canton Ballet,” said Executive Artistic Director Jennifer Catazaro
Hayward, a Canton Ballet alumna who began her training as a child before returning to teach and eventually lead the organization.
“The people before us did it so well. We’ve all worked together to create a community of love around it. It’s often alumni who are picking that legacy up, carrying it forward and making it better. It’s truly a labor of love.”
Many staff members grew up dancing in the same studios they now teach in. Each year, the Ballet provides high-quality instruction for all ages and skill levels, offers a rigorous pre-professional training company and delivers arts education programming across the region. Its reach expands through partnerships, scholarships and performances that bring the magic of dance to thousands.
To Director of Development and alumna Ashley Bettis, Canton Ballet is much more than just a dance school. “It’s not just about taking a class and performing—it’s a family,” she said. “Many of our dancers are still best friends with the people they met here. I joke that I have very few pedestrian friends.”
PROGRAMS FOR ALL
The Ballet offers year-round classes across four divisions:
Currently, 265 students are enrolled, ranging in age from six months to more than 60 years old. They come not only from Stark, but Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Mahoning, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties—some traveling over 80 miles roundtrip to train in Canton.
DEEPER THAN DANCE
The rigor of ballet, Jennifer noted, mirrors the physical and mental demands of sports. “You’re pushing yourself to jump higher, reach farther and dig deeper. That’s the same discipline and spirit you find in any sport.”
The Ballet's positive impact on its students lasts long after their days of performing.
“Canton Ballet shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand until much later. The discipline, confidence, grit and grounding I gained here carried me through higher education, into my profession and into the person I am today," said Susan Shaheen, Canton Ballet alumna and assistant general counsel for the Nordson Corporation. “I owe so much of who I am today to Canton Ballet.”
Today’s dancers face pressures that earlier generations didn’t. Social media can be a powerful tool—opening their eyes to new choreography, technique and dancers around the world. But that inspiration also comes with constant comparison.
“Our students can be really hard on themselves,” Jennifer shared. “I expect a lot because I see what they’re capable of, but I also want them to feel comfortable, safe and supported. I want them to know that if they’re doing their best and giving it their all, that’s enough.”
To better support dancers, the nonprofit plans to expand its mental health programming.
“We aren’t an all-or-nothing school,” Jennifer added,
“Some students train for a professional career in ballet, and others dance purely for the joy of it. Either way, they show up because they love it and want to be here.”
REACHING MORE PEOPLE
Canton Ballet continues to pilot new programs that expand its reach, strengthen community connections and teach the organization what works and what doesn’t.
A summer collaboration with the Canton Museum of Art paired dance classes with visual arts lessons inspired by current exhibitions. The power of this initiative was evident when half of the participating students later enrolled in the Ballet’s programs.
A summer pilot program offering free dance instruction to Boys & Girls Club of Massillon students was so impactful that it was expanded into the school year. The Ballet also launched Steps, a new after-school program for second graders at Canton City School’s Worley Elementary School to promote physical wellness, classroom engagement and academic growth.
Additional partnerships with a growing number of nonprofits, like the Canton Symphony Orchestra, EN-RICH-MENT, Massillon Museum and local libraries, continue to widen the Ballet’s impact.
“It’s those introductory moments to ballet—that’s what sparks the love forever,” Jennifer said.
ARTS ACCESS
Financial accessibility remains a top priority. Each year, the Ballet awards around $40,000 in scholarships and financial aid to ensure cost never keeps a child from dancing.
One scholarship supporting male dancers was recently renamed in honor of alumnus Tommie Earl Jenkins, who trained at Canton Ballet before a successful Broadway, television and film career.
“Every day is a chance to keep moving forward, to follow our dreams and achieve what others deem impossible,” Tommie said. “What better place to start than at Canton Ballet. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.”
PERFORMANCES THAT INSPIRE
Canton Ballet performs each fall, winter and spring, rotating classic and contemporary works like Dracula, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Peter & The Wolf.
Last year, 10,000 patrons traveled from 28 states, including one visitor who flew over 5,000 miles from California to see a show.
Each production involves dozens of individuals—dancers, costume designers, choreographers, tech crews, guest performers, wig makers, ticketing staff and volunteers—all working together to bring these productions to life.
The Ballet’s most cherished production remains The Nutcracker, a holiday tradition that dates back to 1969. Decades later, it remains the Ballet’s largest production, with the biggest cast, most performances and largest audiences.
“For many families, it’s not the holidays unless you see The Nutcracker,” Ashley said. “It’s become a multigenerational tradition.”
FUTURE PLANS
As Canton Ballet looks ahead, it’s preparing for expansion.
“We’ve evolved as an organization,” Ashley said. “But our space hasn’t. Our goal is to grow in a way that reflects who we’ve become and where we’re going.”
The Ballet's dream is to build an addition to its existing space and longtime home at the Cultural Center for the Arts. More space would allow for storing sets and costumes on-site, additional studios and administrative offices and a dedicated health and wellness center.
The proposed center would offer modern resources, such as a gym, on-site physical therapy, a cold plunge tub, reflection rooms and other wellness amenities.
In the future, the Ballet also hopes to refresh its set for The Nutcracker— which hasn’t been replaced since 1989.
LASTING IMPACT
Sixty years in, Canton Ballet remains a powerful example of how artistry, community and perseverance can help transform a city’s cultural landscape. What began as an unlikely dream has become a lasting legacy—one plié, pirouette and performance at a time.
Learn more at cantonballet.com.